Evaluating Internet Resources

Just because it's on the Web doesn't mean it's true (you know that). The Web is mass of networks, controlled by no one, regulated by no one, and edited by no one. Anybody can publish on the Web, and this is as it should be. It makes it difficult for research, though. It's important to evaluate the resources you get from the Web to make sure you're getting quality information that’s legitimate and fits your needs.

Wikipedia: in particular this should never be cited as a resource unless the subject is so unbelievably esoteric that it appears in no other resources (this is highly unlikely, so ask your instructor before trying). Wikipedia can be extremely useful for links and references to other works and resources, however.

Some points to keep in mind when looking at a source you've gotten from the Web:

Authority--who created the web page? Are they experts? What are their credentials? Do they provide contact information?
Accuracy--where did they get their information? Are the facts verifiable through another source? Do they list a bibliography of citations from where they obtained their information?
Objectivity--does the site have biases? Is the information presented in such a way to allow the viewer to make his/her own judgment, or does the site try to persuade you to adopt its viewpoint? What is the purpose of the site?
Currency--when was the site last updated? Are the facts on the site up-to-date? Is the information current?
Coverage--how much of the topic does the resource cover? Does it attempt to cover all or most of the aspects, or is it vague?

For more information on evaluating web sites, take a look at these sites:

Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools from Cornell
The ABC's of Web Site Evaluation (by Kathy Schrock)

December 2007
Please report promptly any ridiculous errors on this page to: niemla@ulm.edu